Supporting stand for garment forms



Aug. 5, 1930. BURK i 1,772,240

SUPPORTING STAND FOR GARMENT FORMS` Filed Jan. 9, 1929v INvl-:NoR 845A Ac Bu/w( ATTORNEYS Parenteel Aug. 5, 193e UNITED .sm-res rsAAc BURK, ,orNEW Yonx, N. Y.

' SUPPORTING STAND non GABMENT roar/rs Appueeuea 'aies January s, 192e.serial No. geiser.

rI`his invention relates to supporting stan-ds for garment or dressforms and particularly to that typek of stand in which the body of theform is adjustable to various heights. 5 rlhe present invention relatesto adjustable forms of the type known in the trade as automatic formsand in which the supporting pedestal is made of a pair of tubulartelescopic vmembers that are slid longitudinally relalo tively to eachother and are locked in vadjusted position by means of a pair ofwedgeshaped, internal, expanding members, the ac tuation of which tolock and unlock the stand is controlled through a spring actuated' rodi5 by a foot pedal, the tubular members being constructed to perform ashock absorbing or dash pot function.

While garment forms having `,pedestals of vthis type 'are extensivelyused, the construc- 20 tions heretofore employed for such pedestals andfor the locking means are Subj ect to many objections among which may benoted the failure of the locking means to grip and hold securely theparts in adjusted position; the tendency of the locking members to dropaway from their proper positions and to fall into the tubular members,thereby necessitating a 'dismantling of the pedestal to recover thelocking members and then a reas- ?e sembling of the parts; the failureof the spring rod, which is connected to one of the locking members, tofunction properly, the spring exhibiting a tendency to bind on said rodand in additio'nlosing its resiliency after a relatively short period ofuse; the failure of the tubular members to perform properly the shockabsorbing or dash pot action which they are intended to Vperform inwhich case breakage of the parts frequently occurs; the tendens? Oftmaar ofthe parts te break Q1' otherwise get out of order under ordinaryusage,and""the difficulty of manufacturing andassemblng the parts- Aslarge numbers of these garment forms are used the arment industry and byhighly paid skille Y workers, it isf'f the utmost importance that they'function properly and require but a minimum amount'ofattention .onthepart of the operative. If, for examl ple, the'loelrin'g members becomedisengaged medi ately While the operative isengaged in fitting o rdraping' a garment thereonfand the body lof the form drops, 'theoperatives time iswaste'd in readjusting the device', Likewise, iffthelocking membersV fail to release or grip imwhen the foot pedal isoperated the operatives time is Wasted. Y v

In view of the above the principal object of the present invention is'tovprovide anew and improved construction for a device kof the characterset forth that will be certain and reliable in the functioning of itslocking members, in the kperformance of the shock 'absorbing or dash potaction, and inthe operation 'of the spring actuated rod; that vvwill beof simple and sturdy construction, with the parts thereof so Connectedand arranged that dislodgnient thereof out of their proper positions cannot occur; that will require but a minimumamount of machining operationsin the manufacture thereof, and that mayy be assembled quickly andeasily by relatively unskilled labor in a minimumtime.

The above and other objectsr 'will appear more fully from the followingmore Ydetailed description and byreference to theaccoinpanying drawingforming a part hereof and wherein ig. 1 is a central vertical sectionthrough a supporting stand constructed in accordance with the principlesof my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are sections von the lines 2 2 and 3-3 ofFig. 1 respectively, and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4l4ofFig- 2.

Asvshown in the drawings thenumer-al l() indicates the legs of thesupporting `base for the pedestal which radiate from'an'd support at aspaced distance (from the floor'a hollow boss 1'1.v Projecting laterallyfrom the members of an adjacent 'pair 'of legs 10 aindpref erablyfo'rmedintegrally "with said legsisv -a i pair of stub pins rawheh ffm'bearings 'for a pedal 1 3. The pedal 13 is'form'ed between *its `endswith a pair of ,laterally projecting heir teenage 14e which, eeeieeriyeehwa u1' the drawings, aie adapted to coioper-ate with 'the pins12 for pi'votall'y supporti-ng the pedal member.' Learned between un.bearings V14. and projecting downwardly 'fi-ein the underiside of thepedal is. 'a nek er' ne 15 ene. when the pdl`iplalced piti 111150117 theI l'OO Vprovide altreadle portion 13b which portion is provided with aplurality of elongated transverse slots 13.' At the edge of each slotthe treadle portion is formed with an upwardly projecting' edge 13d.These edges provide in effect a corrugated surface that prevents theoperators foot from slipping oft' vthe pedal when it is actuated.

The sides of theslots 13, as clearly shown in F ig. 1, are preferablytapered sc that the Y 1 wards'the block 28 by the pressure of the slotsare wider at the bottom thereof than at the top.v This construction isemployed to facilitate the casting of the pedal and also to obviate thetendency ,of dirt from thevsole of y the operators foot to collect intheslotsand clogthe same.

Extending into the bore of the hollow boss 11 is the lower end of-"atubular member 17. A short distance from the lower end of said member aspring reaction block 18 is located within said member and, inorder tohold saidv block securely locked, in position'` within thetube 17, saidblock is provided with a peripheral groove intowhich the metal of thetubevis forced as indicated by the reference `character '19., rlhe tube17 preferably fits within the boss llwith a neat press fit and, in

order to insure against longitudinal movement of said tube to said boss,a set screw 20 is screwed into the metal of the boss and bears at itsinner end against the'outer wall ofthe tube in alignment withthe grooves19.

Confined between the block 18 and a cupshaped member 21-is a coilcompression spring 22 which spring encircles the rod 16. The

. cup-shaped member 21 is of a diameter such that it will slide freelywithin the tube 17 and which is held against movement relatively to therod 16 by any suitable means such as the nut 23. It will-be noted that.the spring'22 is entirely enclosed and concealed within the tube 17 andthe cup-shaped member 21.

At its upper end the tube 17 passes into a second tubular member 24which is telescopically associated with the tube 17. The upper end ofthe tube 24 is closed by a block .25 which is press fitted into saidtube 24. fThe .l block 25 hassecured therein the lower end of thepresent invention relates the body 27 is adjusted and locked inpositionat a desired distance from the floor. yMovement of the body 27to and from the floor is effected by .sliding the tube24 longitudinallyrelatively to the tube 17 The means for locking the two tubesin`adjustedposition comprises an or contacting faces are similarlyinclined so that said blocks will co-operate to produce a wedging actionwhen they are moved relatively longitudinally of the tube 24 and towardseach other. Both of the blocks are pro vided with 'a central borethrough which the rod 16 passes loosely. The lower block is lsupportedupon the upper end of the tube 17,

a washer 8O preferably being interposed between the lower face of saidblock and the top of the tube. f

'The upper block 29 is normallyurged tospring 22 which, as will bereadily understood, exerts through the cup-shaped member 21 andvnut 23 apressure upon the rod 16 which tends to move the same in a downwarddirection. This downward movementof the rod 16 is communicated to thebloclr 29 by a nut 31 screwed upon the upper endof said rod. 'A washer32 is preferably interposed .between said nut and the top of the block29.

or thelike. This compressible block is adapt 'L ed to be forcedagainstthe upper washer S4,

.and to beheld against movement longitudinally of the rod 16 by'meansofa nut 36, a lock nut 37 being provided to hold the nut 36 inadjustedvposition. ln order to prevent too rapid leakagecf air from theupper end of the tube 24 and about theblocl 25, a cork 38 is fittedsnugly within said tube-24 and is forced into the tube untili-tcontact-s with the block 25.

lt is desirable with a device of the character'V described to providemeans for lpreventing the telescopic tubes 17 and 24 frombeingdisengaged when the body 27 is raised to its upper- Vmost limit. Forthis purpose the block 28 is l'made of slightly larger diameter than the'tube 17. rlhe lower end 'of the tube 24 is slightly iiared outwardly toprovidea small flange 39. A washer 4Q encircles the tube V24 and restsupon the flange 39. Detachably connected to the washer 40 by anysuitable means such as thescrews 41 is another washer 42, the innerdiameter of which is less than the outer diameter of the v block 28 andsuch that the washer 4-2 tube 17.

As a further .precaution against subjecting the stand to slioolrsorblows should the dash pot ltail to function to cieca the downwardmovement 'of the body 27, a butter spring L18 surrounds the lower end ofthe tube 17 and rests upon the upper tace of the boss 11, a Washer lepreferably being placed upon the upper end of said spring 4:3.'

The operation of the dei/ice is follows: The parts rare shown in F 1 ofthe drawing in their locled position the spring 22 preme` ing at itsupper end upon the bloclr 18 which it will be remembered is held againstmovement within the tube 17- The lower end of the spring 22 pressingagainst the cup-shaped member 21 and nut 23 forces the rod 15downwardly. lt will be understood thaL the rod 16 slides treely throughthe central aperture of the block 18, rlhe force exerted downwardly bythe spring` 22 is communicated through rod 16, nut 81 and washer 82 tothe upper bloerQf), thus holding the lower Ainclined face of thebloclr29 pressed tightly against theupper inclined'face ot the block 28.It will be noted thit the cent-ral bores of the bloclrs 28, 29ersconsiderably larger than the diameter of the rod so t i lateral movementof said blocks is permitted. As the lower blocl is held a inst movementby the tube 1'? the torce ted by the spring 22 acting on the inclinedmeeting` faces of the blocks 28, will cause said blocks to be movedlaterally and to be pressed into tight engagement the inner bore of thetube 24C. [is the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface oi" theblocks 28, 29 is but slightly less than the diameter of the bore of thetube 24 the blocks will grip said tube with a large contacting" surfacearea and will securely hold the tube 241 against longitudinal movementand in fixed relationship to the tube 17. lr" the operator wishes tochange the adjustment of the body 27, the foot pedal 13 is depressed byplacing` the toot upon the treadle portion 13" thereof. This will causDthe pedal 13 to be rotated upon its learings 12, 14, thus moving theinner end 13a of the pedal upwardly and causing the rod 16 to be movedupwardly against the pressure of the spring 22. As the rod 18 movesupwardly the pressure of the spring 22 is taken up by the inner end ofthe foot pedal and therefore the pressure is released upon the blocks28, 29. This will permit the blocks 28, 29 to move inwardly transverselyot the tube 24 and release their friction al holdingA engagement withsaid tube. The tube 24 and body 2T can therefore be slid longitudinallyor vertically to bring the body 27 the desired distance from lie floor.l'ilhen the blocks 28, 29 are releasec as above will slide Jfreely uponthe described and the weight of the body-2T and the part-s connectedthereto yis not Vsupported by the operator, it is ob, 7tous thattheffo-rce oit-gravity will causethe upperine'mbers to descendj In suchdescent air will betrapped between the leather washer '33 and theupper`end 'oit' the tube'lli which'is closed ,by the cork 38 and block 25.r`The pressure ofthe air trapped between the washer 88 and cork 38 is"sometimes considerable*y particularly if the upper portion is allowed:todrop quickly. The cushioning etlect'howeverV withthe con l structionherein. disclosed is certainiand reliable, thelcorlr 88 preventingfarapidescapfe ot the air.V l"lhe cork 38 is however'not'entirely ai-rtight andwill permit avery slow escape of the air when the pressure Yther-eel. v-

mounts:y considerably. The :result is that the upper part of the devicewill slowly descend to itslowermost limit of travel. i

The provision olf-the coinpressible. block enables the leather washer3S=to ybe adjusted so as to secure just the proper func tioning of saidleather washer. 5

It will be noted that thel in'nfer diameter of the spring 22 isconsiderably'larger than the outer diameter ofthe' rod 16,t-hereby notonly avoiding any binding of ther spring upon said rod but alsopermitting; said spring to be so constructed'that ity will be vsturdy'and strong in its action and capable; offwithstanding long periods oi.yuse. n

The bores of the blocksv 28-are preferably made tapered, as shown in`the lraivings,so that saidblocks may be castfwitliout resortfing to theuse of cores in the casting operation, thus materially manufacture, i ii I lt will'also be noted thatthe.washerl 42 will co-'operatewith thebloclr'28 to act as a stop for limiting the upward movement o-f theparts. As it is however sometimes desirable .to dismantle thetelescoping tubes, the washer L12 is detachably secured tothevreducing'V theeostot lower end ot" the tube 2d bythe screws 11. It

then it becomes desirable vto'disniar'itle the device or `to obtainaccess to the vlocking .-bloclzs, it is onlynecessary to vlunsere-zw theor the like, an upper- !and a"lower'ftaibujlaimember arranged'intelescopic Engagement, a f.

pair of cylindrical locking wedgessupported on top of saidlowfert-ub-ular membe rid- 1ocated within said upper tub lar member,each of said wedges being plovided h '126m al bore, amd. passi-ngthreughisaidleweatubir lar member andthe bores of said wedges, a

spring for normally urging said rod in one rod inanv opposite direction.

2. In a supporting stand for garment forms 4or the like, annpper and alower tubular member arranged -in telescopic engagement, a pair ofcylindrical locking wedges supported on top of said lower tubular memberand fit* ting slidably wit-hin said upper tubular member,y each of saidwedges having a central bore and an inclined side face in contactingengagement with the similarly inclined face of the other wedge and meansfor normally forcing said inclined faces of said wedges together andthereby holding a large surface area of the cylindrical peripheries ofsaid wedges in contact with a similar area of the inner wall of saidupper tubular member, said means comprisingarod extending through thecentral bores of said wedges, a spring and a pair of abutments on saidrod, one acting on said 'spring and the other on one of said wedges.

3. A supporting stand as set forth claim 2 in which the upper tubularmember has i detachably secured to it a stop for co-operation with oneof said wedges for limiting the movement of said tubular members out oftelescopic engagement.

4. In a supporting stand for garment forms or the like,'a.supportingbase, a tubular member iixed within said base, a reaction block againstwhich said cup-shaped washer projects, an upper Atubular member intelescopic engagement with said lower tubular member, a pair of wedgeseach having a central bore, an outer cylindrical periphery and aninclined sidev face arranged-one above' the other within said uppertubular member and encircling said rod, an abutment on the upper end ofsaid rod for 'engagement with the upper one 'of said wedges and a footpedal pivotally mounted on said base for engagement with the lowerprojecting end of said rod.

5. A supporting stand as set forth in claim 4 in which the' supportingbase is provided Vwith afplurality of iioor legs, two of which areprovided with laterally proj ect-ing` bearing stubs, and the foot pedalis provided with a pair of'fbearing surfaces for pivotal engage= mentwith said bearing stubs. l

l6.' A supporting stand as set forth in claim 2 in which the uppertubular member is provided at its upper end with means to prevent escapeof air and a pump washer is se'k cured to said rod for engagement withthe Vinner wall of said upper tubular member and producing a dash poteffect when said Vupper tubular member moves downwardly upon the lowertubular member. A

7. A supporting stand as set forth in claim y 2 in which the uppertubular member is provided at its upper end with means to prevent escapeof air and a pump washer is secured n to said rodfor engagement with theinner wall of said upper tubular member and producing a rdash vpotAeffect when said upper tubular member moves downwardly upon the lowertubular member, a block of compressible resilient material is mounted onsaid rod in engagement with said pump washer and an adjusting means isprovided for compressing said compressible block against said 'washer tovary the effective engagement thereof with said upper tubular member.

8. A. supporting stand as set forthin claim l in which the supportingkbase is provided with a plurality of floor legs, two of which areprovided with laterally projecting bear* ing stubs, and the foot pedalis provided with a pair of bearing surfaces for pivotal engagement withsaid bearing stubs and with a projection located between the ends ofsaid stubs for co-operation with said stubs to prevent lateral movementof said pedal.

9. ln a garment form supporting stand, a supporting base having a hollowboss, a pair of telescopically engaged tubular members, a Y

pair of wedges for engaging one of said members and locking said membersin adjusted position, an operating' rod extending through said membersand said boss, and projecting at its lower end belowv said boss, abearing in said boss for said rod, a coiled spring surrounding the lowerend of said rod and Confined between said bearing andan abutment on saidrod for normally urging said rod in a directionfto cause saidV wedges tolock said tubular members, a cup shaped member, in which the lower endof said spring is seated, slidably mounted in said hollow boss, saidspring being completely enclosed within said cup shaped member and boss,and a pedal for moving said rod against the action of said spring torelease said wedges, said cuprshaped member Jo-operating with said bossto pre1 vent lateral distortion of said rod. 9

10. A garment form supporting stand of the type whereina pair oftelescoping tubular members mounted on a supporting base having a hollowboss are adjustable to vary the height of said form and are locked inadjusted position by a pair of wedges under the control of a springactuated operating rod and a pedal, characterized by said bossv andwedges being provided with aligned central bores, a bearing block having`a'centralV my hand.

ISAAC BURK.

